Roll Call: President Sally Foster, Vice President John Centurioni, Treasurer Dean Taylor, and Trustees Leroy Lindo, Ray Kane, James O’Meara, and John Keane were present. Secretary Mark McDonough and Trustee Al Luenow were excused.
Approval of the Minutes: Trustee John Keane made a motion to approve the September 2016 minutes. Trustee Ray Kane seconded the motion which passed without objection.
Receiving Applications; Suspensions; and Reinstatements: Trustee Ray Kane and I responded to the San Francisco Police Academy to present our membership to the 252nd Recruit Class. Thirty- Four members of the class applied for membership. These applicants will become full time members after they graduate from their probationary period in the San Francisco Police Department. Trustee John Keane made a motion to accept the applicants for membership pending their probation period. Trustee Ray Kane seconded the motion which passed without objection.
Trustee Ray Kane made a motion to DROP two members from our membership roll. The two members have not paid their dues for more than one year. Both members were sent Suspension Letters that included notice of non-payment of dues, suspension, and information to pay their dues in lieu of being dropped from our roll. Trustee Ray Kane made a motion to drop James M. Kelly and Justin Madden from our membership roll. Vice President John Centurioni seconded the motion which passed without objection. Trustee Ray Kane and I will respond to the San Francisco Police Academy in the final week of November 2016.
Communications and Bills: Our audit for 2016 is in progress Treasurer Dean Taylor presented our regular monthly bills a partial audit bill of Six Thousand two hundred dollars. Vice President John Centurioni made a motion to pay the bills. Trustee James O’Meara seconded the motion which passed without objection.
Report of Visiting Committee: No report this month.
Report of Trustees: The WOAA received the sad news of the passing of two members:
Robert Vienot, age 90: Robert Vienot was born on May 4, 1926 in Council Bluffs, Iowa. Bob was born to parents Chester and Ruth Vienot. The family moved 26 times during the Depression finally settling in San Francisco, California in 1938. Bob met the love of his life, Mary Washington, in Home Room at Polytechnic High School in San Francisco. Bob was a member of the ROTC. Duty and honor called Bob to enlist in the United States Marine Corp upon High School graduation in 1944. Bob served in the 1st Marine Division, Fox Company, 2nd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment through some of the most perilous and significant engagements of WWII including the Battles Guadalcanal and Okinawa. Bob’s previous occupation is listed as “Warehouseman”. Bob joined the San Francisco Police Department on November 17, 1947 and was assigned to star #28. Bob graduated from the Police Academy and worked the following assignments during his thirty year career: Park Police Station (December 1, 1947), Northern Police Station (February 6, 1950), HDQ , M/L (September 19, 1950), Northern Police Station (January 25, 1951), Taraval Police Station (October 12, 1959 promoted to the rank of Sergeant), Richmond Police Station (June 13, 1960), Northern Police Station (September 15, 1960), Communications (May 3, 1961), Central Police Station (August 17, 1970, promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on September 4, 1970), HQ-BCI-Communications (February 1, 1971), and finally to Field Operations HQ (November 27, 1977). During Bob’s career he walked a beat, trained new recruits as a Sergeant, and developed the new “Pic” radio system for police communications as a Lieutenant. Bob had a lifelong appreciation of boats, aviation, trains, automobiles, and military history and was a lifetime member of the San Francisco Model Yacht Club, American Legion, NRA, U.S. Naval Institute and Hiller Aviation Museum. He owned 41 automobiles over the years. Bob had a keen attention to detail and craftsmanship. Bob was a master modeler, building over 150 scale-model tugboats, steamers, sailboats, and military vessels. After retirement, he treasured the time spent with his friends at the SFMYC and simply “messing about in boats” along the shores of Spreckles Lake in Golden Gate Park. He also spent many years as a docent on the SS Jeremiah O’Brien sharing maritime mechanics and WWII history with visitors of the famous Liberty Ship located at the SF Embarcadero. Bob was a kind, generous man who loved his family, his extended family, and many friends. Bob guided his daughters and grandchildren with gentle but invaluable lessons in self-reliance. He made sure all of his daughters had their own toolbox. Bob is survived by his wife of 69 years, Mary; daughters Pat Kennedy, Vivian Huddleston, and Valerie McNease as well as many grandchildren and great-grandchildren. No services were held. A scattering of ashes will take place at a later date. Donations to USO, VFW, American Legion, or simple acts of human kindness are appreciated.
Irwin Tuttleman, age 86: Irwin Tuttleman was born on November 4, 1929 in San Francisco, California. Irwin’s previous occupation is listed as “Salesman”. Irwin joined the San Francisco Police Department on April 16, 1956 and was assigned to star #1839. Irwin graduated from the Police Academy on July 9, 1956 and worked the following assignments in his thirty year career: Richmond Police Station (July 9, 1956), City Prison (January 2, 1957), Potrero Police Station (April 9, 1962), Central Police Station (December 17, 1962), Park Police Station (September 19, 1965), and worked his final assignment at Northern Police Station (April 20, 1972) where he remained until he retired on September 22, 1986.
Report of Special Committee: A special committee for WOAA employees will set policy and guidelines for computer data base authorization and use. Trustee Leroy Lindo is the committee Chairman.
Unfinished Business:
New Business: No report this month.
Good of the Order: No report this month.
Adjournment: President Sally Foster led the board members in a moment of silence for our fallen members, and set next month’s meeting for November 8, 2016. The meeting will be held at the Hall of Justice 850 Bryant Street, room #150 at 1pm.
To All: Dues Increase. Dues will increase to $100 in January of 2017, and to $150 in January of 2018. The death benefit will increase to $17, 500 in 2017 and to $18,000 in 2018. I have documented the Actuary Study several times in this column. The Study by Bartel and Associates was completed in November 2015. Based on their strong recommendation we will raise the dues for the next two years. Active members pay through payroll deduction. Retired members can pay making an automatic payment through their financial institution. If you are a member of sfpcu, please visit www.sfpcu.org/woaadues and complete an online authorization for a payment of our dues, the 2017 dues will be $100. The sfpcu can be contacted at 800 222-1391 for assistance. A bill payment can be arranged through a personal sfpcu account, or ask about a member-to-member transfer. Our dues can be paid by personal check, however, this option has presented a problem with a growing number of members who forget to pay their dues each January, and have to be personally contacted and reminded. Each year members are suspended and dropped for non-payment of dues. An automatic payment through your financial institution will avoid non-payment issues.
Beneficiary forms can be accessed through our WOAA website at ‘sfwidowsandorphans.org’. Please click on the ‘resources’ box which is located on the upper ride side of the website face page tool bar. Print the form and complete the form with any CHANGES to your existing form. The form requires either a signature by a WOAA board member, or a Notary Public. Please use this form for any address and/or contact number changes. Address and contact number changes do NOT require a Notary or board member signature. We give our thanks and gratitude each month to several people who assist us in our mission to serve our members. Retired San Francisco Police Captain Paul Chignell assists the WOAA in locating members who have changed their contact numbers. Retired San Francisco Police Lieutenant and former WOAA Past President Rene LaPrevotte also assists the WOAA through his website. Rene continues to reach out to members through his website when we are unable to make contact. Each month Sgt. Rachael Kilshaw and Risa Tom of the Police Commission assist our efforts with S.F.P.D. award information that we use in POA Journal obituary section. David Ng of Personnel assists us by providing the S.F.P.D. service record of our fallen members. This information is also used on our POA Journal obituary section. We also give our thanks and gratitude to the S.F.P.D. Traffic Solo unit who graciously and patiently afford us the space for files and monthly meetings. And “thank you” also to Ray Shine who has assisted us in our efforts to upgrade our Constitution and By-Laws, and for his continued service as the editor of the POA Journal.
Mark J. McDonough
WOAA Secretary